Well another week has gone by. My camera is out of action - i am lost without it. We just had the ATT U-verse guy install DVR! I am pretty impressed with it - for those back in OZ this means I can now record any TV show - up to 4 at once - and save it on the t.v to view later when I want! So no more fighting with Brad over evening TV - i can just watch what I want during the morning. Plus I love fastforwarding t.v!
Brad is away this week to Canada, thankfully I have Angie and the kids comming so I don't start talking to walls.

Sunday I minded 4 kids under 5 for 6 hours alone - willingly :) I was picturing fun art projects and kids playing non stop - and was right on all accounts - the home made play do made its appearance along with sparkles, glue and paint. However this was all from 12:30 till 3pm. After that - I was out of options and outside they all went. For the next 5 minutes all was quiet in the house - it was too cold outside to play for long and in they all trotted. Now before Brad left I said - please don't leave me pregnant and nauseous for like 6 hours. He came home from the game in 5 hours and 50 minutes :)
I wish I had pictures from our day with Jackson's cousins - it was a blast and wonderful to see all the young ones (minus Christopher) together. My camera seems to have had a meltdown so I can't show you all how each of them got to blow out the spaghetti "candles" on their play do "cup cakes".

In other news Jackson started "school" today! He is attending Colman's Children academy in Springdale. Well of course he screamed when I first left him, it was terrible and for a moment I almost walked in and got him and just went home again. But Brad convinced me to just let him go. The ladies said he did cry a lot . He was able to be settled/ distracted, but did not eat any of the food offered and became upset at lunch and cried again. I was not happy with the morning snack - sugar covered cereal and a sippy 1/2 full of watered down juice. Now we don't do that much processed sugar all day - let alone one meal. and Jackson's snacks are almost a full meal - an orange, a few crackers and a glass of milk or water. So I will bring his own fruit for snack time. which the superviser said was o.k and she encouraged me to bring anything that I thought he would like to eat if I don't think he will eat the food offered. They are also happy to help toilet train, and let him have his dummy sookie (paci and blanket) for nap time. and yes he actually napped. When it was time to get him I went with Ashlyn and he was so thrilled to see her he almost didnt' even notice me. He also bonded with Miss Kim and gave her a huge hug before leaving. Miss Kim said that Jackson is really intelligent - which was nice to hear even though I am sure they try to make every mother feel their child is special. I enjoyed the walk home as did Aslyn and Jackson - chatting away over this thing and that on the way home as they laid back in the pram (stroller).

Well tomorrow is another day.

Oh also today I had another baby scan - heard heartbeat! I can stop progesterone - so looks like we really are pregnant.

fun and friends

Brads Game - where's the chalk?
Hmmmmm, no it's not in there Ashlyn! :)

I love this shot of Jackson me and one of Denise's girls at the park - See below for more info on this day at the park.
Jill, Me and Jen hanging out at Jen's husband George's birthday party - 31 and still young. George and Brad have been fast friends since Uni. Jill's husband Keith is also a long lost friend of Brad's. It has been an absolute delight to meet these wonderful women who inspire me through their talent, generosity and sincerity. Brad, J and I are looking forward to a visit to Jill and Keith's farm, where they grow all types of produce and flowers for the surrounding markets and restaurants near Memphis.

Where have we been?

Hello!!! (Above see me with new hair do - i feel like it makes me look old....er. I'm working with it and think i want to go shorter) anyway... I am sorry for not updating in forever, but we have all been under the weather lately. So now I am feeling slightly better, and Brad is over his 24 hr virus that saw him convulsing from the dry heaves for most the other night. I really wanted to share with everyone back home (aka Australia) that we have great support over here, and are going along great in our new country. Jackson loves all his cousins, and gets so excited when there is chance we get to see them. Recently Allen (Brad's brother) and his wife Angie and their children Ashlyn (3) and Christopher (1) returned from living overseas and we have been enjoying hanging out and getting to know them better. Especially the kids who have been so much fun to have around. Oh and I have to say Christopher ADORES his uncle Brad - no kidding the kid like reaches for him like they have known each other for years. Brad gets a kick out of this - being the favorite - although I am not far behind - today Christopher wanted to be held by me and gave me snuggles - baby snuggles are the best!!
Hanging out with Nee Nee and getting kisses from Penny. too cute!
We met up with Denise- a old school friend of Brads - at the Harrison park and let her twin girls and J play - Elli swooped in to give J a big hug when it was time to go.
making friends
surrounded by pretty girls
This past month we helped out Brads Grandpa and Mary clean up the back yard after the ice storm - and J got to ride with Grandpa in the trailer... again....and again.......and again.

This is the prized baseball signed by the entire Razorback baseball team. Jackson was given the blank ball from Pat and Elizabeth - new friends of mine and old friends of Brad's - Pat then helped J as they went from player to player to sign the ball. It was way cute!

Elizabeth and me with the hog - Liz and Pat are getting married here in the Spring and we are SO happy for them and for us - to be able to attend what will be an amazing fun wedding of two beautiful and generous people. Pat is also amazing with Jackson - at dinner that night they played arcade games together while I got to eat my pizza in peace!

A cute photo i found on Nee Nee's computer - we miss you Brad!

A note to the family back home - I am in Harrison for a few days - Brad dropped me and J off on his way up to Missouri for work. I am sick with a cold, it is raining, and J is stinking me out. Must go change him.

Yesterday I went for a second scan - you see readers I am pregnant - and am happy to reveal the scan showed a viable pregnancy - heartbeat. I had a m/c a few months ago and was not expecting to become pregnant. I am taking progesterone tablets to maintain the pregnancy for the next 3 weeks, which after the very first dose I can now introduce two new members to the family - boob a and boob b. They are now their own entities. Seriously huge swollen teats. This is after the already enlarged state just from becoming pregnant (that is how i knew I was the 2nd time round). At the scan Jackson piped up repeated me loudly announcing to the nursing staff "We had a NICE surprise!"
Yes we did Jackson - a very nice surprise.
If everything goes well this next month and until September - we will be adding to our family.
I am nauseated beyond any reasonable expectation, and the only thing that helps is iced water or chilli cheese coney dog from Sonic - or pepperoni pizza with anchovies. I have gained 5 pounds since I became pregnant and I don't think its the iced water. Shit - I said this time I would be fit - and not gain as much weight as I did with Jackson - as you all know I gained 70 pounds with J, and its taken two years to get it off. Hmmmm. Well I will be 8 weeks this week so wish us luck for the next month or so! Brad is slightly stressed, poor man - his lot in life a sick wife and jumping bean 2 yr old and crazy dog. Actually - wish Brad luck for the next few months!

I am also excited that all our children - meaning the young harris' are around the same age - with Sara's bub due by Friday, Christopher just a year ahead of him/her and then J with all his other cousins - what a life! Some of my favorite memories are fun summer days spent with my cousins. I hope the same for Jackson.

Fun times

The concentration when J plays blocks is slightly unnerving!
Kammy and J waiting for lunch after Hayes birthday
Skating party
Happy birthday Hayes!
Pre nap caos in J's bedroom. He now likes to also climb to the top and throw off everything onto the floor. I keep all his play clothes and nappies up on the top bed - well not any more. They are all on the floor.
Nap time - yes he is still wearing his p.j's and a snow suit - he really prefers to be in p.js till at least after nap if not all day - and I don't blame him - I do too!
My curtins hung and done!
ice storm 2009

Iced grass.